University of Delaware Athletics
Red-Hot Delaware Volleyball Squad Earns No. 2 Seed, First Round Bye in Upcoming CAA Tournament
11/12/2012 2:53:00 PM | Volleyball
The Blue Hens (15-13) are one of the CAA's hottest teams with Delaware entering the tournament having won three straight matches and seven of its last eight, including a 3-0 win over UNCW Saturday that clinched the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
Host Towson, which went undefeated in league play this year at 12-0 and is 25-3 overall with a current 17-match win streak, is the No. 1 seed in the tournament while Delaware, which went 9-3 in league play, is the No. 2 seed. The top two seeds earn first round byes and move directly to the CAA semifinals.
No. 6 seed James Madison (12-15, 5-7 CAA) will take on No. 3 Northeastern (20-6, 9-3 CAA) in the first quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. followed by No. 5 William & Mary (13-13, 5-7 CAA) taking on No. 4 Hofstra (18-13, 6-6 CAA) at 7 p.m.
Delaware will take on the James Madison-Northeastern winner on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. followed by Towson taking on the William & Mary-Hofstra winner at 7 p.m. The semifinal winners will meet in the championship game Sunday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Tickets can be purchased at the door each day of the tournament. Live video and live statistics will be available on the CAA website site at www.caasports.com or on the Delaware athletics website at www.bluehens.com/fan-zone/watch.
The Blue Hens have dominated CAA Tournament action of late and have qualified for the post-season tournament for the seventh straight year and for the 9th time in 11 seasons under head coach Bonnie Kenny.
The Hens are 5-2 all-time in semifinal action under Kenny and have captured CAA Tournament titles in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Delaware will be looking to become the first CAA team to win three straight titles since George Mason won five straight in 1992-96.
Delaware went 4-3 vs. the CAA Tournament field this season, sweeping William & Mary, defeating Northeastern and Hofstra in their only matchups, falling to James Madison in its only meeting with the Dukes, and dropping both contests to Towson.
Senior outside hitter Alissa Alker, a two-time All-CAA performer, leads the Blue Hens in points (359.5), kills per game (3.01), and service aces (32) while ranking second in digs per game (3.27) and fourth in blocks per game (.50).
All-CAA senior Chelsea Lawrence leads the team in hitting percentage (.251) and blocks per game (0.95) while freshmen Ariel Shonk (5.7 digs per game) and Mackenzie Olsen (10.1 assists per game) rank No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the CAA in their statistical categories.
